NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2025
Texas A&M University System and Global Perpetual Energy, Inc. Sign Commercial License Agreement to Bring Ocean Wave Energy Innovation to Market
[COLLEGE STATION, Texas] – The Texas A&M University System and Global Perpetual Energy, Inc. (GPE), a Texas-based renewable energy company, officially signed a commercial license agreement on April 25, 2025 at a ceremony held at Texas A&M Innovation’s offices in College Station. The agreement grants to GPE A&M’s exclusive rights to commercialize the “Global Perpetual Energy Ocean Blanket”, a groundbreaking wave energy conversion technology developed at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, a member of The Texas A&M University System.
The innovative technology is the result of a collaborative effort between Dr. HeonYong Kang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ocean Engineering at Texas A&M University; Dr. Chaitanya C. Kesanapalli, a recent graduate of the same department; and Terry W. Henry, CEO of Global Perpetual Energy, Inc.
The GPE Ocean Blanket System is engineered to convert ocean wave energy into cost-competitive, utility-scale electrical power. By leveraging elastic deformation that resonates with multidirectional, irregular waves, the system enables efficient energy capture in a wide range of ocean conditions. Beyond power generation, the Ocean Blanket also serves as a wave energy absorber, helping to reduce wave loads on neighboring offshore structures such as wind turbines and oil platforms.
Under the exclusive license agreement, GPE will have the right to:
- Sell the Ocean Blanket systems as standalone units,
- Lease the blankets for deployment in wave energy projects, and
- Sell the electricity produced by these systems.
“This technology exemplifies the powerful synergy between academic innovation and entrepreneurial vision,” said Darrell Kuhn, Senior Licensing Manager for Texas A&M Innovation. “It not only advances the future of renewable energy but reinforces Texas A&M’s role as a leader in sustainable engineering solutions.”
Dr. Kang and the research team shared the excitement: “Through strong supports from GPE, we were able to identify foundational innovation of holistic wave energy conversion underpinned by hydroelastic resonance, which can effectively harvest utility scale energy from the real ocean waves, multidirectional, irregular, and varying over time. It would be incredibly fulfilling to see our research reach this next phase, where it can begin making a real-world impact on the future of energy sustainability.”
Terry W. Henry, CEO of Global Perpetual Energy, Inc., emphasized the broader impact of this milestone:
“This is more than just a technological advancement — it’s a paradigm shift,” said Henry. “By combining world-class academic research with entrepreneurial ingenuity, we’ve created a renewable energy solution that has the potential to change the world. In a landmark achievement for sustainable energy, a visionary partnership has unlocked the ability to convert over 75% of ocean wave energy into usable electricity — a historic milestone that promises to redefine the future of global power generation.”
The signing ceremony, attended by A&M System leadership, inventors, and representatives from Texas A&M Innovation and GPE, marks a pivotal step in translating ocean energy research into impactful commercial deployment.
About Global Perpetual Energy, Inc.
Global Perpetual Energy, Inc. is a Greenville, Texas-based renewable energy company focused on developing scalable, ocean-based power generation solutions to support a clean and resilient energy future.
About Texas A&M Innovation
Texas A&M Innovation serves as the commercialization and innovation gateway for The Texas A&M University System, connecting world-class research with industry partners to accelerate technology deployment and societal impact.
Media Contact:
Crystal Carter, Program Coordinator II, Outreach
Texas A&M Innovation
Email: ccarter@tamus.edu
Phone: (979) 246-0448
